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on the path to wellness What Is A Wellness Wheel & How Can It Change Your Life? S TO RY BY L I E S E L S C H M I DT
Wellness. It’s something we’ve heard a lot about, something that we strive to attain. And in these times of constant bombardment and technology overload, we struggle even more to disconnect, to re-center, to achieve balance and find that ever-elusive thing that is “wellness.” So what exactly is wellness and why is it so important? “Wellness goes beyond the physical,” says Jessica Kirschner, owner and creator of Mindful Modern Living. “Wellness combines and interconnects with the mind and spirit ... All individuals make lifestyle choices that bring them towards a state of equanimity and inner peace or take them away from such states. Each individual is capable of achieving the optimum state of health and well-being. Taking this time to examine where you are right now and what you truly need is a huge step in creating change, joy and peace within yourself. Understanding the multidimensional aspects of wellness and the interconnectedness of all dimensions empowers a deep level of self-trust, higher knowing and life balance. By adopting a healthier lifestyle, we receive blessings of vitality, energy and lasting health.” While it may sound like an abstract concept, Kirschner has a very concrete plan for getting to that place of “equanimity and inner peace” known as wellness. “The Wellness Wheel is a tool for organizing and developing a personal plan to explain, promote and achieve greater individual wellness,” she explains. “It was first modeled from the theory of individual psychology. Following extensive research across disciplines, researchers found characteristics that they saw had a connection to healthy living, quality of life and longevity.”
PHYSICAL: Physical health is one characteristic that correlates positively with healthy living, quality of life and longevity. Understanding how your body works and being aware of how exercise, sleep, food and stress can affect you is a major contributor to optimal health and well-being. SOCIAL: Family and friends affect who you are, how you act and what you expect from others. They not only affect your overall well-being, but also how you navigate the world. ENVIRONMENTAL: Having a sense of safety, comfort and connection with your own physical surroundings is important to your mental, emotional and physical health. Environmental wellness also includes respecting the environment and understanding how personal actions impact the health of the ecosystem. FINANCIAL: Financial wellness means having the ability to fulfill current and future financial obligations and feel secure in your future financial planning.
Consisting of seven distinct characteristics, the Wellness Wheel addresses all the pieces that, together, create the various aspects of our lives and contribute to our total wellbeing.
SPIRITUAL: Spiritual wellness is a process of understanding beliefs, values and ethics that help guide your life. Knowing your core values and boundaries is a powerful step in creating change, joy and peace within yourself. It's important to identify barriers in your life that restrict or limit you from tasting, hearing, seeing, smelling, feeling or experiencing.
INTELLECTUAL: Allowing yourself time to be curious, participate in the creation of art, read and learn in a spontaneous and uncensored way can provide insight, transformation and healing.
EMOTIONAL: It takes practice to let go of ego and acknowledge emotions and feelings. Learning healthy coping techniques can allow you to step outside of your emotional self and evaluate the situation.
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